Strategies for exiting COVID-19 lockdown for workplace and school: a scoping review protocol

Objective: The main objectives of this review are to summarise the existing literature and to identify strategies for exiting lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a focus on reopening schools and returning to work. Introduction: After months of strict quarantine, several countries are planning exit strategies to progressively lift social restrictions without giving rise to an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases. Although several strategies have been studied in terms of how and when to relax such stringent constraints, there is a lack of consensus on the optimal strategy for managing the pandemic beyond lockdown. The risks posed by delaying return to work and school openings are real and sizeable, particularly for relevant working sectors and for students from low-income families Inclusion criteria: This review will consider studies that focussed on relaxation strategies for lockdown exit among workers and students facing an epidemic /pandemic crisis. Methods: The searches will be conducted across four databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, SciSearch, Google Scholar), and the bibliography of all selected studies will be hand-searched. In addition, because the topic is new, relevant literature will be checked using daily, updated COVID-19 collections from NCBI (LitCovid) and MedRxiv servers. Studies published in English, German, Spanish, Italian and French will be included, with no limits on publication dates. This review will consider all study designs, regardless of their rigor. The review method will be based on a two-phase approach: a title and abstract screening, and a full-text review performed by two independent researchers. Data will be summarised and categorised, and results will be presented in a tabular/diagrammatic form.

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The Impact of Higher Education Loan System among Students from Low-Income Background in Tanzania

European Scientific Journal ESJ ◽

10.19044/esj.2018.v14n28p39 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 14 (28) ◽

pp. 39

Author(s):

Watende Pius Nyoni

Keyword(s):

Higher Education ◽

Low Income ◽

Relevant Literature ◽

Access To Higher Education ◽

Means Testing ◽

Operational Mechanism ◽

Low Income Families ◽

The Government ◽

The Impact ◽

The Needy

In spite of the initiatives which have been taken by the government of Tanzania towards access to higher education for qualified students who came from low - income backgrounds, the studies and real situation reveal the reality of how this group of people has been denied to parity and fair for accessing higher education. Thus, Tanzania government has established Higher Education Students Loans Board with the Act No.9 of 2004 aiming at giving assistance to the students who got admission in universities, but came from low-income families with no financial strength to support their schooling. However, since its inception higher education loans board had failed to identify students from low-income background resulting in some students dropping out or postpone their studies as they look for other sources of funds. This article is qualitative in nature with the use of document analysis technique. The author uses relevant literature, officially published statistical data and various theoretical justifications for examining the impact of HE loan towards students from low-income background. The results of this study identified some challenges leading to a misallocation of fund to the needy students, application of Means Testing being one of them. Meanwhile, the author concludes with careful planning and effective use of means testing with a sustainable operational mechanism which will address the issue of parity and justice for the needy students in accessing higher education in Tanzania.

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Conservative Treatment for Acute Ankle Sprain: A Systematic Review

Journal of Clinical Medicine ◽

10.3390/jcm9103128 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (10) ◽

pp. 3128

Author(s):

Ana Belen Ortega-Avila ◽

Pablo Cervera-Garvi ◽

Ana Marchena-Rodriguez ◽

Esther Chicharro-Luna ◽

Christopher J. Nester ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Pain Relief ◽

Conservative Treatment ◽

Ankle Sprain ◽

Relevant Literature ◽

Randomised Control Trial ◽

Inclusion Criteria ◽

Short Term ◽

Study Designs

The aim was to identify conservative treatments available for acute ankle sprain and to evaluate their effectiveness with respect to pain relief and short-term recovery of functional capacity. A systematic review of the relevant literature was conducted via a data search of the PROSPERO, PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, PyscINFO and SPORTDiscus databases, from inception until December 2019, focusing on randomised control trial studies. Two of the authors independently assessed the quality of each study located and extracted the relevant data. The quality of each paper was assessed using the Cochrane risk of bias tool included in RevMan 5. In all, 20 studies met the inclusion criteria. In terms of absence of bias, only nine papers were classed as “high quality”. Studies (75%) were of low quality in terms of the blinding of participants and personnel and uncertainty in blinding of outcome assessment and all presented one or more other forms of bias. Despite the generally low quality of the studies considered, it can be concluded that conservative treatment for acute ankle sprain normally achieves pain relief and rapidly improved functionality. Research based on higher-quality study designs and procedures would enable more definitive conclusions to be drawn.

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Congress of Neurological Surgeons Systematic Review and Evidence-Based Guideline on Closure of Myelomeningocele Within 48 Hours to Decrease Infection Risk

Neurosurgery ◽

10.1093/neuros/nyz264 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 85 (3) ◽

pp. E412-E413

Author(s):

Alexandra D Beier ◽

Dimitrios C Nikas ◽

Nadege Assassi ◽

David F Bauer ◽

Jeffrey P Blount ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Wound Infection ◽

Full Text ◽

Task Force ◽

Relevant Literature ◽

Complication Rates ◽

Class Iii ◽

Inclusion Criteria ◽

Full Text Review ◽

Infection Complication ◽

Global Increase

Abstract BACKGROUND Appropriate timing for closure of myelomeningocele (MM) varies in the literature. Older studies present 48 h as the timeframe after which infection complication rates rise. OBJECTIVE The objective of this guideline is to determine if closing the MM within 48 h decreases the risk of wound infection or ventriculitis. METHODS The Guidelines Task Force developed search terms and strategies used to search PubMed and Embase for relevant literature published between 1966 and September 2016. Strict inclusion/exclusion criteria were used to screen abstracts and to develop a list of relevant articles for full-text review. Full text articles were then reviewed and when appropriate, included in the evidentiary table. The class of evidence was evaluated, discussed, and assigned to each study that met inclusion criteria. RESULTS A total of 148 abstracts were identified and reviewed. A total of 31 articles were selected for full text analysis. Only 4 of these studies met inclusion criteria. CONCLUSION There is insufficient evidence that operating within 48 h decreases risk of wound infection or ventriculitis in 1 Class III study. There is 1 Class III study that provides evidence of global increase in postoperative infection after 48 h, but is not specific to wound infection or ventriculitis. There is 1 Class III study that provides evidence if surgery is going to be delayed greater than 48 h, antibiotics should be given. The full guideline can be found at https://www.cns.org/guidelines/guidelines-spina-bifida-chapter-4.

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Medicaid, Low-Income Families, and Reimbursement

Pediatric News ◽

10.1016/s0031-398x(06)71583-1 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 40 (12) ◽

pp. 68

Author(s):

BRYAN FINE

Keyword(s):

Low Income ◽

Low Income Families

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Demonstrating Nutrient Cost Gradients: A Brooklyn Case Study

International Journal for Vitamin and Nutrition Research ◽

10.1024/0300-9831/a000210 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 84 (5-6) ◽

pp. 244-251 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Robert J. Karp ◽

Gary Wong ◽

Marguerite Orsi

Keyword(s):

Low Income ◽

Energy Content ◽

Food Selection ◽

The United States ◽

United States Department ◽

Micronutrient Deficiencies ◽

Caloric Density ◽

Low Income Families ◽

The Cost ◽

The Impact

Abstract. Introduction: Foods dense in micronutrients are generally more expensive than those with higher energy content. These cost-differentials may put low-income families at risk of diminished micronutrient intake. Objectives: We sought to determine differences in the cost for iron, folate, and choline in foods available for purchase in a low-income community when assessed for energy content and serving size. Methods: Sixty-nine foods listed in the menu plans provided by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) for low-income families were considered, in 10 domains. The cost and micronutrient content for-energy and per-serving of these foods were determined for the three micronutrients. Exact Kruskal-Wallis tests were used for comparisons of energy costs; Spearman rho tests for comparisons of micronutrient content. Ninety families were interviewed in a pediatric clinic to assess the impact of food cost on food selection. Results: Significant differences between domains were shown for energy density with both cost-for-energy (p < 0.001) and cost-per-serving (p < 0.05) comparisons. All three micronutrient contents were significantly correlated with cost-for-energy (p < 0.01). Both iron and choline contents were significantly correlated with cost-per-serving (p < 0.05). Of the 90 families, 38 (42 %) worried about food costs; 40 (44 %) had chosen foods of high caloric density in response to that fear, and 29 of 40 families experiencing both worry and making such food selection. Conclusion: Adjustments to USDA meal plans using cost-for-energy analysis showed differentials for both energy and micronutrients. These differentials were reduced using cost-per-serving analysis, but were not eliminated. A substantial proportion of low-income families are vulnerable to micronutrient deficiencies.

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